Finca La Donaira

Surrounded by mountains, pastureland and verdant valleys, and set on a working permaculture farm with vineyards, olive groves, sheep, cattle, goats, chickens and vegetable huertas, Finca La Donaira sensitively blends into its extraordinary surroundings. Typically Spanish, whitewashed walls and local stone buildings give no indication of the luxury within at this unique eco-luxury escape.

The nine rooms at Finca La Donaira include five in the main cortija, two just across the courtyard and a further two designed as yurts and set high on a hillside. Each room is unique, some with enormous copper bathtubs and walk in showers, others with two stories, but all have top-end fittings, fantastically comfortable beds, and great style. In-keeping with the ethos of the property, all materials are natural: stone, iron, wood, leather, sheepskin and wool. Comfortable bedrooms all have sitting areas and large bathrooms offer underfloor heating for the chilly Andalucian winters. In the main cortijo, there are several sitting and lounge areas, with large scale furnishings and superb artwork. Large windows invite you to appreciate the incomparable scenery looking out on the medicinal gardens, farm, and hills beyond.

The always buzzing hub of the cortijo is the kitchen where chefs from England, Austria and San Sebastian whip up delicious feasts featuring ingredients from the farm to be enjoyed around the communal kitchen table. Using seasonal ingredients, the chefs create a fantastic menu of predominantly vegetarian cuisine, thanks to the estate's organic garden. The estate features a large spa offering an indoor pool, wet and dry saunas, a yoga platform and an outdoor pool to enjoy in the warmer spring and summer months.

Finca La Donaira's equestrian centre is a real highlight of the estate, complete with 70 Lusitano horses raised using Natural Horsemanship, a computerized dressage area, plus lessons and trails for the true novice to experienced riders. The experienced team can also tailor multi-day riding programs, should you wish.

If you can tear yourself away, enchanting Ronda is just 40 minutes away while countless blindingly white Andalucian villages tumble from rocky hills in a landscape made for romantics.  Hiking, biking, spa and wellness programs, trekking in the nearby Sierra de Grazalema National Park, farm tours, medicinal garden tours, hands-on cooking sessions, wine and olive oil tasting and guided stargazing are all offered on the property.